Jaina Corpus of Koppala Inscriptions X rayed

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 84

Corpus of Koppaļa Inscriptions / 65
their thought, word and deed. Most of the monks, mentioned in these memorial columns, are the preceptors of the Ganga rulers.
Among the pontiffs mentioned, the following are outstanding personalities: Abhayanandipandita, Ajitasenamuni, Ganda-vimuktideva, Gollācārya, Maladhārideva Maunibhattāraka, Meghacandra, Nayanadideva, Nemicandra Siddhāntadeva; Padmanandi-Siddhānta, Sridharadeva, Indranandideva, Siddhasena Bhatāra, Trikālayogi, Tribhuvanacandra Bhațāra. Lot of information apropos of the spiritual pedigree to which they belong is available about these ācāryas from other inscriptions, particularly from Śravanabelago!a.
Some of these friars are either confreres or coevals or belong to the successive generation as teacher and disciples. Among them only a few were the pontiffs of Koppaļa diocese.
SALLEKHANA OF SOMADEVASŪRI
Till to-day the exact date and place of the death of Somadevasūri of the yasas-tilaka was not known. But Koppaļa inscription no. 34 in two parts has, supplied this information; following is the summary of that incomplete inscription.
'Vādibha-Pancānana' was a teacher to poets and to the emperor. A terror to the disputants was Mahendradeva, a disciple of Nemideva, whose disciple was the famous Somadevasūri. Victory to Somadeva, who with his prudence became the emperor of logicians. Even Krsnarāja (Krişna Ill of the Rāştrakūtas) had praised Somadeva (Sūri) who was also the master of Nolambāntaka (Mārasimhadeva II, son of Būtuga II).
Somadeva was conversant with poetry, dramaturgy, Nātyasāstra and grammar. He was a king among poets; never before and never after a talented person, so deserving as Somadeva, existed. Tärkika-cakravarti SomadevaPaņạitadeva died at Koppala on 2-10-984 Thursday.